Did you know your Mac could do that?
Even able-bodied people now commonly use computers for listening to music and watching movies - or know that they can. For people with a disability who can’t access things the regular way, accessing extra things via a computer can be a huge boon. If your computer already has the assistive technology you need, then accessing things via a computer means you don’t need to deal with yet another set of accessibility aids. So what amazing things might your Mac be able to do?
Here are some of the things that I know a Mac can do - if you can think of others, please jump in with comments.
The software and hardware mentioned in this article is generally not the only thing that will get the job done - it’s just what I know of. Recommendations in the comments are welcomed.
Watch and record TV shows including digital, high definition, and cable TV with EyeTV.
Listen to and record local AM and FM radio with a radio SHARK.
Turn lights and appliances on/off with an X10 system controlled by Indigo or XTension
If it gets stolen, tell the authorities where it is and even provide pictures of the thief with Undercover.
Control (nearly) anything which has a remote control - your stereo, TV, VCR, heating system, air conditioner, etc. - by hooking it to the X10 system.
Dial the phone, announce caller ID, and act as an answering machine with PhoneValet Home.
Send and receive faxes with OS X itself.
Run when the power goes off with a UPS.
Synchronise your Address Book and Calendar (and more!) with your iPhone, Cell Phone or PDA with iSync or Missing Sync.
Function quite happily on a network of Windows computers, sharing printers and files and other resources.
Listen to Satelite Radio with StarPlayr, SiriusMac.
Run a remote controlled car with usbcar.
Send and receive SMS messages with OS X itself.
Play World of Warcraft, Eve Online, and most other popular computer games.
Speak to anybody anywhere in the world cheaply or free with iChat, Skype, or Gizmo. They do video calls too.
Run Windows and any Windows programs you like at the same time as Mac OS X with Parallels or Fusion.
Log your heart rate data with TrackRecord.
Save, edit, display, and archive your photos with iPhoto.
Turn paper documents into machine-readable, searchable, editable documents on your computer with a scanner and ReadIris Pro.
Drive real model railway trains with SimpleDigitalLocomotive.
Play almost any video you can find.
Record and track readings from your home weather station with WeatherTracker.
Learn to play piano with a MIDI keyboard and Synthesia.
Keep track of your finances with software such as the accessible MoneyWell.
Control and run a ham radio rig with Aether.
Monitor how well you sleep and your dreams with Dream Recorder.
Connect your computer to your astronomical telescope and control it with ScopeDriver.
Online you can do things like take accredited high school or college courses, pay bills, do banking, book holidays and travel tickets, and nearly anything else you can imagine.
Oh, and you can launch rockets and missiles with your mac too. Honest!
- Ricky Buchanan, ATMac
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One other: Easily edit and save in PDF format. BTW, thanks, this is a great list with a few new surprises, even for an experienced Mac user. I enjoy your blog!
@bernardramsey: Good point. I was really trying to get at things not usually associated with computers at all with this list, but I’ll save that one for a future list!
- Ricky
I just stumbled across this site — thanks so much for listing all this info. I’m a new mac user and it’s really helpful.
Did you know your Mac OS X computer could do that? http://is.gd/eQq8 - what would you add to this list? #apple
Interesting - Did you know your Mac could do that? http://tinyurl.com/7fnsu9
you can use the search, mail and ical functions as a cognitive prothesis to keep track of names, and memories, that are otherwise lost. Combined with blogging and photos, each step increases the efficacy. What Macs do about this best is the ability to integrate so many features and cross search.
Bluetooth on Macs allows you to control your machine via your mobile phone.
Great information, keep it coming. I’m a Special Educator and love learning what I can use for my students that we already have available.